novice mark user looking for help with .inp file

[barthelmess]

Hi folks:

I'm trying to become a novice MARK user, but am getting pre-empted by my .inp files.

Each time I try to run a basic closed capture model, I get the following error message (or something very similar):"The character "y" was found in the encounter history. Error -- Encounter history must consist of only these characters '10' ".

As far as I can tell, this error has something to do with hidden formatting of my .inp file.

I have read and re-read in particular chapter 2 of the "Gentle Introduction." I have also searched the forum for guidance, and as a result have tried (all suggested at various places in the forum):
1)installing recommended text editors (I tried jEdit and Notepad++) and then recreating my .inp file without using Word or Notepad,
2)Removing MARK with the windows uninstaller, downloading and reinstalling the newest version of MARK and then trying to run my model again,
3)Opening my .inp file in Word, revealing formatting to make sure there are no e.g. hidden tabs, and saving as a text file with name in quotes to allow the .inp extension.

None of these has helped. Does anyone have other suggestions? I'm sure I'm missing something very obvious, and I thank you in advance for your time.

I'm having the same problem on two different computers, both running Vista.

erika

[aswea]

One thing that has worked for me before is to subdivide the .inp file and run it in parts until I find the part that is generating the error. Did you look way off to the right for the extra character?

[barthelmess]

Perhaps my subject line in my original post should have said, with reference of course to me, "novice mark user is a moron..."

My problem was semicolons. I hope I'm not the only one on this list who has those days where you can look at a semicolon again and again but not really "see" the semicolon. Ugh.

Kudos to the MARK team for a great help section and a great gentle introduction and pardon my intrusion.

erika

[cooch]

Perhaps my subject line in my original post should have said, with reference of course to me, "novice mark user is a moron..."

My problem was semicolons. I hope I'm not the only one on this list who has those days where you can look at a semicolon again and again but not really "see" the semicolon. Ugh.

Kudos to the MARK team for a great help section and a great gentle introduction and pardon my intrusion.

erika

Glad you figured it out - as per the FAQ, .inp file problems are fairly common. Kudos for eliminating the editor as the possible culprit.

Now that you have your .inp file formatted, the rest is trivial (seriously, the other 750 pages of the 'gentle guide' are just filler

egc (St. Lawrence '81, by the way).